The award is in recognition of Fontaine’s lifetime of achievement and dedication to Canada in his public service career.

A press release from Norton Rose notes that Fontaine is a member of the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba and the former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN).

“He is the longest-serving National Chief in AFN history and the only one to be elected to three terms,” the release states. “Phil has been instrumental in raising awareness of the importance of human rights to the lives of all Canadians, and First Nations peoples in particular. He was honoured with the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 1996 and is a Member of the Order of Manitoba.”

“As AFN National Chief, Phil led the successful resolution and settlement of the 150-year Indian residential school tragedy, which led to a historic apology by the Canadian government. He also signed the Declaration of Kinship and Cooperation of the Indigenous and First Nations of North America and was the first Indigenous leader to address the Organization of American States.”